By Andrew Irumba
Kampala: President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has Monday September 23, 2019, officially opened the 64th Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference (CPC), at Speke Resort Munyonyo, with a message to delegates that they should adapt to how they engage with the public .
The CPC, which is to be attended by over 1200 delegates, will run from September 22-29, under the theme “Adaption, engagement and evolution of Parliament’s in a rapidly changing Commonwealth.
The Conference kicked off with closed meetings of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association regional secretaries.
President Museveni, in a message to the delegates, noted that Uganda acknowledges the contribution of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association in advancing good governance and ensuring effective parliaments.
“Looking at the theme, it speaks to the need for parliaments to reform, promote two-way communication and rebuild trust with the population whose interest they represent in the legislature. Parliaments should thus adapt to how they reach out and engage with the public, especially through its committee systems and outreach programmes,” said Museveni.
Spy Uganda has learnt that the Speaker of Parliament Rebecca Kadaga, who is the CPC designate president, on Sunday received 20 Speakers and Deputy Speakers of National and provincial Parliaments, plus delegates.
Among these is the CPA Chairperson, Emilia Monjowa, who is also the Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly of Cameroon. The other Speakers and Deputy Speakers are from Lesotho, Kenya, Cayman Islands, Dominica, Virgin Islands, the Gambia, Malta, Fiji, Bermuda and others.
There are also delegates from Bermuda, Guyana, Ghana, New Zealand, Australia, Cameroon, ESwatini, Fiji, Gambia, Malta, Seychelles, Tanzania, Djibouti, Canada, Kenya, India, Falkland Islands, Scotland, Jamaica, United Kingdom, Trinidad and Tobago, Wales, Malaysia, Cayman Islands, Sri Lanka, Botswana, Namibia, Pakistan, South Africa, Virgin Islands and others.
Also scheduled concurrently, is a meeting of the Commonwealth Women Parliamentarians steering committee, the small branches steering committee and the governance review working group and discussing the importance of monitoring for new parliamentarians and promotion of women to leadership positions and senior portfolios. Uganda last hosted the Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference in 1967.
